Adjustably supported seat



2 Sheets-Sheety l G. FLINERMANN ADJUSTABLY sUPPoR'rED SEAT Filed Apr'il25. 1931 Mal-ch 21, 1933.-

. wmuHHnbHo al@ IVENTOR /f/f ATTORNEYS March 21, 1933. G, FLINTERMANNADJUSTABLY SUPPORTED SEAT Filed April 25, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORW9mm BY 73, @WQ/MMMYM H/s ATTORNEY5 non-centrally applied force.

Patented Wlana 2l, 1833 GERHARD rnrn'rmnann, or wnsr cannon, .rms-nirAna'osrannv snrronrnn saar' Application filed April 25, 1931. Serial No.532,827.

This invention relates to seats and more particularly concernssupporting and adjusting means for seats which are arranged foradjustable movement relative to a fixed sup- 5 port.

Apparatus embodying the present invention comprises generally a seatmounted for forward and rearward sliding movement on a Iixed support.Seats of this type are used extensively in vehicles and in otherinstallations where a change in the seat position is desirable to alterthe leg room provided or to change the position of the seat occupant orother reasons. The seat construction of the invention is of the type inwhich releasable means are provided for at times preventing relativemovement between the seat and its support, such means being released bythe seat occupant when a change in the seat posio tion is desired, andthe seat being then moved manually by the occupant and then locked inits new position. ln accordance with the invention, the sliding supportfor the seat comprises a pair of spaced substantially 5 parallel slidesand guides, or equivalent means, extending forwardly and rearwardly ofthe seat, and respectively disposed adjacent opposite sides of the seat.The seat is almost invariably moved by the person who 3 sits adjacentone side thereoi` and since the power thus applied to the seat to moveit is applied at a point more closely adjacent one sliding support thanthe other, the side of the seat remote from that occupied by theoperator thereof tends to lag or drag behind the operatorls side with aresultant tendency toward twisting of the seat and binding or jammingandlocking of the slide mechanism. With the above and otherconsiderations in mind, it is proposed in accordance with the presentinvention to provide improved sliding supporting means for seats ot thetype described, which means prevent undesirable v binding of the seatwhen it is moved by a lt is a further object of the invention to providea seat of .this type embodying cushioning elements interposed insupporting relationship between the seat and its support, .theseelements acting not only to absorb shocks and so improve the ridingqualitiesoithe seat, but also to permit a limited 'relative movementloetween the spaced slidemechanism elements either on the seat or on thesupportwhe'reby the binding of theslide mechanism upon movement of theseat is further reduced and the jamming of this mechanism is effectivelyprevented. The invention also contemplates the provision of improved andsimplified releasable locking means for at times retaining the seatagainst movement along its" slide mechanism. i 4

ln general, the above and other objects of the invention are carried outby interposing two substantially parallel spaced slidably cooperatingpairs of elements in supporting and connecting relationship between theseat and its support and by providing means for reducing the frictionbetween one of such pairs of cooperating elements to a value less thanthe friction between the other of such pairs of elements. The pair ofinterengaging elements adjacent the side of the seat remote from that atwhich the vehicle operator sits, is preferably arranged to have theleast friction whereby these elements may be readily moved relative toeach other by the comparatively small proportion of the propelling forcedelivered to the side of the seat remote from the operator, and in thismanner, the`binding of the sliding mechanism is substantiallyeliminated. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, rotaryanti-friction elements are employed to thus reduce the friction of theslide mechanism at one side of the seat.

ln a preferred form of the invention, one set ot spaced elements, eitherthose connected to the seat or those connected to the support, areconnected to such members by resilient means arranged to permit alimited relative movement ot these slide elements in the plane ontmovement of the seat as the seat is moved. This relative movability ofthev slide elements permits them to adapt themselves to a slightlytwisted position ot the seat and so prevents the undue binding or duringthe movement thereof. loo

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a seat construction embodying the presentinvention,

broken away to certain of the parts beine' the sliding supshow thearrangement ofD ports;

Fig 2 is a bottom plan View of the seat constructi-on shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. '3 is a sectional view taken alon the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 and Viewedin the irection of the arrows; and

Fig. 4 is a. sectional view taken along the line 4 4 of vFig. 1 andViewed in the ldirection of the arrows.

' Referring to the drawings, the seat proper, indicated at, S in Fig. 4,is carried by a frame 6 which may be formed yof wood or any othersuitable material. In the disclosed embodiment of the invention, theseat S is mounted for sliding movement on a base structure 14 which maycomprise the usual floor structure of'an automobile.

The seat S is mounted on a pair of interengaging slides or guides orequivalent means which are locate-d respectively adjacent the two sidesof the seat, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. It should be understood thateither the slides or the guidesl may be attached to the seat, the otherelement being attached to the fixed support. As shown, a pair ofparallel guides 5 and 11 are fixed to the undersurface ofthe seat frame6, a tapered block 30 being disposed between each guide,

and the seat frame proper. Each guide comprises a plate 18 having a pairof parallel spacers 7 and a pair of spaced parallel retaining plates 8fixed to the undersurface thereof in the order named by means of thebolts 9 or other suitable means. It should be understood that the plates18, spacers 7 and retaining plates 8 may be formed integral. if desired.The inner spacer 7 of each of the guides 5 and 11 is providedwith anannularly Idispose-d opening 10 for the reception of the seat lockingbars, as hereinafter more fully explained.

A slide 12 is disposed in the guide 11 and a similar slide 13 isdisposed in the guide 5. Each ofthe slides 12 and 13 comprises a Hatplate having a row of projections, such as the teeth 15, along its inneredge near the forward end of the seat, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, andeach sli-de is slidably carried between the'spacers 7 of itscorresponding guide and retained in position by the plates 8. A pin orstud 16 is fixed to each of the slides 12 and 13 and projects upwardlytherefrom into a slot 17 in the corresponding guide plate 18, the pinacting to limit the movement of the seat as the end of the slot comesinto engagement therewith.

The slides 12 and 13 are preferably respectively connected to the fixedsupport 14 through resilient means such as'the cushioning elements C.The cushioning elements may take various forms but are preferablydesigned to permit a limited degree of relative movement between the twoslides 12 and 18 in the plane of movement of the seat S. In thedisclosed embodiment, each cushioning element comprises a pair ofchannelshaped metal members 19 attached together at their ends by meansof the bolts 20 to form an annular ring. An annular soft rubber core 21is seated within the annular ring thus formed between the side walls ofthe channel-shaped members 19 and an annular sheet metal core 22 havinga grooved outer surface is mounted within the opening in the rubbercore. The rubber core 21 may bc conveniently formed of two U-shapedmembers havin their ends spaced apart, as shown in Fig. 4. Suitablespacing members such as the metal blocks 24'are disposed between the endportions of the outer channelshaped-members 19.

tery box opening beneath the seat, and the lower portions of thecushioning elements C respectively extend into this opening adjacent,the opposite sides thereof. Two plates 28 are respectively fixed at oneend to the inner channel-shaped member 22 and at the other end to theupper surface of the fixed support 14, as shown in Fig. 3.

The seat disclosed in the drawings to illustrate the invention is shownmounted in a Vehicle such as an automobile having operating mechanismincluding the steering wheel 29 adjacent one side thereof, as shownin'Fig. 1. In a vehicle of this type, the seat S is almost invariablyadjusted by the vehicle operator who sits adjacent the operatingmechanism and whose weight is accordingly concentrated on one side ofthe seat and substantially over one of the slide and guide means 11 and12. The seat of the present invention is of the type designed to bemoved by the operator directly, that is, the operator first releases alocking device to be described hereinafter and then pushes or pulls theseat backward or forward while seated thereon by pushing on the doorwith his feet or by pushing or pulling on the steering wheel 29. Withthis arrangement, it is evident that during operation, the unoccupiedside of the seat, that is, the side thereorn remote trom the operatingmechanism including the steering wheel 29, tends to lag behind theoccupied side thereof and the seat tends to twist to a diagonal positionrelative 'to the lixed support. The binding of the guide and slidemechanism due to such 'twisting of the seat is eliminated or reduced toa certain .extent by the cushioning elements C which permit the slides12 and 13 to move laterally relative to the liXed supl port 1e in theplane oi movement of the seat and so to accommodate themselves to thetwisted or diagonal seat position.

1n order to further reduce the binding of vthe seat upon movementthereof by a noncentrally applied "force, it is preferred in accordancewith the present invention to provide means for reducing the frictionbetween the guide 5 and the slide 13 at the side of the seat remote fromthe operator to a value less than the friction between the guide 11 andthe slide 12 at the other side o1 the seat. 1n the disclosed embodimentof the invention, this is conveniently accomplished by providing aplurality of rotary anti-friction elements such as the rollers 31between the guide 5 and the slide 13. As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, therollers are disposed on opposite sides ot the slide 13 at spaced pointsalong the guide 5 and are pivotally supported on substantially verticaltrunions journaled in the plate 18 and the retaining plates 3. ylhespacers 7 may be cut away to provide pocket-s within which the rollers31 are disposed. The peripheral surfaces of the rollers 31 may beconcave as shown in Fig. 3 to fit the convex surfaces of the slide 13.

Suitable releasable locking means are preferably provided for at timespreventing the movement of the seat. lin the disclosed embodiment, thesemeans include two bars 32, the outer ends of which respectively rest inthe openings 10 inthe inner spacers 7 of the two guides 5 and 11. Aprojection or tooth 33 is formed at the outer end of each bar 32 and isdesigned to lit in locking engagement between the teeth 15 on lthecorresponding slide 12 or 13 when the bar is in its extended position asshown. The outer ends of the bars 32 may be o'set downwardly as shown inFig. 3 and a tensioned spring 34 is secured over this odset portionbetween each bar 32 and the corresponding guide plate or block 30. Thesprings 34C normally maintain the projections 33 on the bars 32 inlocking engagement between the teeth 15 on the slides 12 and 13. Theinner ends of the bars 32 are pivotally secured to a rotary disk 35 onopposite sides of the axis thereof as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The disk35 is pivotally connected to the undersurfaoe of the seat trame 6 bysuitable means suchas the plate 33. An operating handle 37 is hired tothe disk 35 and extends to a point beneath the rontedge of the seatadjacent the operator. lt will be evident that by pulling the handle 37forwardly the disk 35 is turned through a small angle and the bars 32are accordingly retracted whereby the slides 12 and 13 are released andthe seat may be moved forwardly or rearwardly. When the handle 37 isreleased, the springs 34 pull the bars 32 outwardly and cause thelocking engagement of the teeth 33 with the teeth 15, whereby the seatis locked against movement.

Although the invention has been described in connection with a singleform ot apparatus, it should be V'understood that various changes 'maybe made in the construction and' arrangement of the parts used withoutdeparting 'from the scope of the invention as delined by the appendedclaims. Thus, the cushioning elements may be attached either to thefixed support as shown or to the seat trame, the slides and guides maybe located on the seat or on the support and various anti-friction meansother than the disclosed rollersmay be used.,

lclaim:

1. ln a device of the character described, two relatively movablemembers comprising a lixed support and a seat, a pair of spacedsubstantially parallel guides both extending in a single substantiallyhorizontal planev from front to rear of said seat and hired to one ofsaid members, a separate slidemovably carried in each ofsaid guides,anti-triction means disposed between one only of said guides and itscorresponding slide and resilient means interposed in supporting andconnecting :relationship between each of said slides and the other ofsaid members whereby said 'two slides may move relative to each other toa limited extent as said slides move in said guides.

2. 1n a device of the character described, two relatively movablemembers comprising a hired support and a seat. a pair of spacedsubstantially parallel guides both eX- tending in a single substantiallyhorizontal plane from front to rear oiE said seat .and fixed to one ofsaid members, a separate slide movably carried in each oft' said guides,means for reducing the Jfriction between one of said guides and itscorresponding slide to a value less than the friction between the otherof said guides and its corresponding slide and non-metallic resilientmeans interposed in supporting and connecting relationship between eachof said slides and the other of said members whereby said two 3. In adevice of the character described, two relatively movable memberscomprising a fixed support and a seat, a pair of spaced substantiallyparallel guides both ex- .tending in a single substantially horizontalplane from front to rear of said seat and fixed to one of said members,a separate slide movably carried in each of said guides, a

plurality of rotary anti-frict-ion elements disposed between one only ofsaid guides and its corresponding slide, and non-metallic resilientmeans interposed in supporting and connecting relationship between eachof said slides and the other of said members whereby said two slides maymove relative to each other to a limited extent in the plane of movementof said slides in said guides.

4. In a device of the character described, two relatively movablemembers comprising a ixed support and a seat, a pair of spacedsubstantially parallel guides both extending in a single substantiallyhorizontal plane from front to rear of said seat 'and fixed to one ofsaid members, a separate slide movably carried in each of said guides,means for reducing the friction between one of said guides and itscorresponding slide to a value less than the friction between the otherof said guides and its corresponding slide, nonmetallic resilient meansinterposed in supporting and connecting relationship between each ofsaid slides and the other of said members whereby said two slides maymove relative to each other to a limited extent in the plane of movementof said slides in dsaid guides and means for at times locking saidslides against movement in said guides.

5. In a device of the character described, a fixed support, a seat, apair of spaced sub- `stantially parallel guides fixed to said seat andboth extending ina single substantially horizontal plane forwardly andrearwardly thereof, a sepai ate slide movably carried in each of saidguides, means for reducing the friction between one of said guides andits corresponding slide to a value less than the thereof, a separateslidesmovably carried in each of said guides, anti-friction elementsdisposed between one only of said guides and its corresponding slide andnon-metallic resilient means interposed in supporting and connectingrelationship between each of said slides and said fixed support wherebysaid slides may move to a limited extent relative to each other in theplane of movement of said seat. v

7. In a device of the character described, in combination with a vehiclehaving operatin mechanism adjacent one side thereof and a xed support, aseat extending transversely of said vehicle ad'acent and to the rear ofsaid operating mec anism, a pair of substantially parallel guidesrespectively lixed to said seat adjacent the opposite sides thereof andboth extending in a single substantially horizontal plane forwardly andrearwardly of said seat, a separate slide movably carried in each ofsaid guides, a plurality of antifriction rollers disposed between theguide and the slide on the side of said seat remote from said operatingmechanism only, and non-metallic resilient lmeans interposed insupporting and connecting relationship between each of said slides andsaid xed support whereby said slides may move to a limited extentrelative to each other in the plane of movement of said seat.

8. In a device of the character described, two relatively movablemembers comprising a fixed support and a seat, a pair of spacedsubstantially parallel guides both extending in a single substantiallyhorizontal plane from front to rear of said seat and fixed t0- one ofsaid members, a separate slide movably carried in each of said guides,anti-friction means disposed between one only of said guides and itscorresponding slide, resilient means interposed in supporting andconnecting relationship between each of said slides and the other ofsaid members whereby said two slides may move relative to each other toa limited extent as said slides move in said guides, a pluralityofprojections on at least one of said slides and means connected to themember carrying said guides anda movable '5 into locking engagement withsaid projections for at times preventing the movement of said slides insaid guides.

9. In a device of the character described, a fixed support, a seat, apair of spaced substantially parallel guides fixed to said seat and bothextending in a single substantially horizontal plane forwardly andrearwardly thereof, a separate slide movably carried in eachy of saidguides, means for reducing the friction between one of said guides andits corresponding slide to a value less than the friction between theothervof said guides and its correspondin slide, non-metallic resilient.means interpose in supporting and connecting relationship between eachof said slides and said fixed support whereby said slides may move to alimited extent relative to each other in the plane of movement'of saidseat,

a plurality of teeth projecting from the inner Y edge of each of saidslidesand means connected to said seat and movable into engagement withsaid teeth for preventing the movement of said slides in said guides.

10. In a device of the character described, two relatively movablemembers comprising a fixed support and a seat, a pair of spacedsubstantially parallel guides both extending in a single substantiallyhorizontal plane from front to rear of said seat and fixed to one ofsaid members, a slide movably carried in each of said guides, means forreducing the fric-tion between one of said guides and its correspondingslide to a Value less than the friction between the other of said guidesand its corresponding slide and means connecting each of said slides tothe other of said members.

11. In a device of the character described, in combination with avehicle having operating mechanism adjacent one side thereof and a fixedsupport adjacent said operating mechanism, a seat extending transverselyof said vehicle adjacent and to the rear of said operating mechanism, apair of substantially parallel guides respectively fixed to said seatadjacent the opposite sides thereof and both extending in a singlesubstantially horizontal plane forwardly and rearwardly of said seat, aslide movably carried in each of said guides, a plurality of rotaryanti-friction elements disposed between the cooperating slide and guideon the side of said seat remote from said operating mechanism only andmeans for connecting each of said slides to said fixed support.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature.

GERHARD FLINTERMANN.

